Dream Chaser’s KSC vision enables 2016 debut

The highly anticipated confirmation that Dream Chaser will be taking up residency at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) was finally made public this week, albeit with a few welcome surprises. The “baby orbiter” will be processed in the Operations & Checkout (O&C) building, ahead of a “committed” debut launch atop of an Atlas V rocket in late 2016.

“That could happen, sure. It depends on the nature of the different customers that are there. But we could come up with ways to keep them separated, so if we needed to have a secure location in OPF-1 versus OPF-2, we could set that up so that if you are badged to go into OPF-1, you can’t go into OPF-2.

“So that’s something we could work, and we have considered that given it’s most likely we’ll have two separate customers for those two bays.”

“An OPF may not be the ideal facility for our vehicle, because they have all the structures that were specific to the shuttle that would have to be removed. We need a large open area, because our vehicle is much more accessible than the Shuttle was, and we don’t need hazardous operations because of our non toxic propellants we have on-board.

As such, Dream Chaser’s new neighbor will be NASA’s new deep space vehicle, utilizing a clean floor space that will allow for horizontal processing and vertical integration with the adaptor that will allow for mating with the Atlas V launch vehicle at Space Launch Complex-41 (SLC-41).

“We have been diligent in our efforts, and I consider this a strong vote of confidence from a company that expects to be a major force in the future of human spaceflight,” added Bob Cabana, Kennedy Center director.

“Sierra Nevada Corporation will find in our workforce and facilities the same dynamic and professional people that have made successful missions from here for more than 50 years.”

Returning Home to the SLF:

The famous Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) was always likely to be selected as Dream Chaser’s port of call after completing her mission in space, adding yet more synergy between the Shuttle fleet and the new commercial vehicle.

Opened for operation in 1976, the 15,000 feet long and 300 feet wide concrete runway was designed for hosting the return of Space Shuttle orbiters during its 30 year program.

The SLF wasn’t an exclusive strip for Shuttle, with a range of aircraft using the runway – from Zero G flights, through to the arrival of satellites and hardware for processing ahead of their launches.

“(The) announcement by Sierra Nevada Corporation continues to verify a strong commercial interest in the SLF,” noted Space Florida President Frank DiBello. “It is clear that the future growth of commercial space is happening here in Florida and we couldn’t be happier to work with SNC to realize their Florida-based expansion goals.”

“I had the privilege of piloting and commanding five Space Shuttle flights as a NASA astronaut. This included the last flight of Discovery which was processed, launched, and on March 9, 2011, made its final landing at the SLF after 39 flights and 148 million space miles,” the astronaut added.

“Mark (Sirangelo), the entire SNC Dream Chaser team, and I look forward to seeing Dream Chaser continue this legacy from Discovery when it flies in 2016.”

She will touch down on its two Main Landing Gear (MLG) just like the shuttle orbiters, although there will be one major difference when the nose is pitched forward, given the Dream Chaser will not be using a traditional Nose Landing Gear (NLG) wheel for its rollout.

Instead, an inbuilt skid strip will touch the concrete floor of the SLF.

However, it’s the Dream Chaser that is now fully confirmed as targeting an approach and landing at the SLF, as much as it won’t be during the 2016 test flight, which will conclude at the Dryden Flight Research Center in California.

The upgrade of the ETA will result in her changing call signs from the Block 0 to the Block 0.5.

A final Californian test will involve a crewed high altitude approach and landing in 2015, with the ETA upgraded to the final Block 1 configuration.

This upgrade will overlap with the final construction work on the OTV version of the Dream Chaser, the vehicle that will ride atop of an Atlas V for an uncrewed test flight into space in November, 2016.

“SNC is thrilled to be the first company to confirm a launch date for our country’s return to orbital human spaceflight and the restart of human spaceflight operations from Florida’s Space Coast,” added Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president and head of Sierra Nevada Space Systems.

“We could not have done this without the spirit and engagement from our national and state governments, the best aerospace companies in the industry, and several major universities, which all hail from over 30 states.

“Together these passionate people will return our astronauts to space on American spacecraft and rockets launched from America’s space coast right here in Florida.”